American Ballet Theatre's 2012 New York City Center season will begin at 6:30pm on Tuesday, October 16 with an Opening Night Gala benefit. A benefit dinner at The Pierre Hotel will immediately follow the performance. For benefit tickets and information, contact ABT's Special Events office at 212-477-3030, ext. 3245.

The season will be highlighted by the World Premiere of a new work by Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky. Set to Symphony No. 9 by Dmitri Shostakovich, the new Ratmansky work will receive its World Premiere on Thursday, October 18. The ballet will be the first of a full-evening of three one-act ballets which will be presented during ABT's 2013 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House. The Shostakovich trio of works will feature scenery by George Tsypin and costumes by Keso Dekker.

Following the World Premiere performance, the new work by Ratmansky will be given three additional performances, October 19 evening and the matinee and evening of October 20.